🔗 Share this article I Replaced My Personal Trainer for Artificial Intelligence – And It's Effective. Leah Walsh Leah used AI to train for her latest half marathon and secured a new record. After a holiday period filled with indulgent treats and downtime, numerous individuals enter January looking to get their fitness back on track. However, could Artificial Intelligence be changing the fitness industry by providing an alternative to personal trainers? Tailored Programs and Flexible Schedules Leah Walsh employed an AI tool for impromptu training for the a major running event. This young woman hailing from a town in Wales explained she appreciated the freedom to pose queries at all hours – something she believed was unavailable with a personal trainer. She used an AI-driven fitness application that gave her personalised plans with voice guidance and pace setting for her inaugural half marathon in 2024. She said she asked it to design a plan merging running and the weight training, and it generated an 11-week plan customized to her event day and objectives. The user then tweaked the plan to fit her lifestyle, which she described was convenient. Subsequently, she chose a alternative application because it was more affordable and she could consult it whenever she wanted. She finished a full minute quicker than her goal time. She noted she wanted to avoid feeling pressure from a live instructor. "With AI you have to find your own drive, which I quite like," she remarked. A weightlifter He has been using AI for his workout and nutrition, and says he has never been stronger. Remarkable Fitness Gains In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, in his twenties, from a Welsh city, has been using AI for his exercise and nutrition programs, and said he has achieved peak strength, boosting his bench press from a lower weight to 110kg. Richard resorted to a bot for assistance after being forced to walk a running event. "I realized I need to sort myself out," he commented. This no-cost application built a fitness and meal program personalized to his aims, and created organized workouts. "I work out for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a noticeable change," he added. The Expense Contrast: Technology vs. Traditional Coaching A recent survey in late 2024 analyzed costs for 17 of the largest fitness chains and found the average membership cost was approximately forty pounds a month, for standard full-access plans. Fees ranged from £23 at the most affordable provider to £132 at the most expensive. Based on further data, fitness coaches determine their own fees, usually a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per hour-long appointment outside London and about £45-£65 in the capital. Clients will often hire a trainer one or two times a week and collaborate for a short period, however these arrangements are often adaptable. A personal trainer Fitness expert Dafydd Judd believes AI will cannot replicate the personal bond that comes from in-person training. The Irreplaceable Personal Element Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, from the Welsh capital, said artificial intelligence can be useful to speed up progress, but is convinced it will not supplant the personal interaction and responsibility that live training offers. This expert, who has over a decade of experience as a trainer, focuses on senior clients and recovery from injuries. He mentioned some of his clients also use technology. "I think it's very valuable, additional information is good," he said. "I believe the more people are connected digitally the more they'll want personal contact because they crave the empathy from the understanding that is missing from a machine," he added. Dafydd said AI can inform clients and make coaching more effective. But, he said true dedication comes when people appear in person for training. "As useful as it is at the middle of the night, a computer cannot ensure you show up at 7am before work," he added. In the view of many, he said, the fitness center is a space to disconnect from devices and stop being glued to screens.